Chapter 10Scene 4

The tower-room beside the terrace. Vuthsa on a couch. VUTHSA All that I dreamed or heard of her, her charm Exceeds. She’s mine! she has shuddered at my touch; Thrice her eyes faltered as they gazed in mine. He lies back with closed eyes; Munjoolica enters and contemplates him. MUNJOOLICA O golden Love! thou art not of this earth. He too is Vasavadutta’s! All is hers, As I am now and one day all the earth. Vuthsa, thou sleepst not, then. VUTHSA Sleep jealous waits Finding another image in my eyes. MUNJOOLICA Thou art disobedient. Wast thou not commanded To sleep at once? VUTHSA Sleep disobeys, not I. But thou too wakest, yet no thoughts should have To keep thy lids apart. MUNJOOLICA How knowst thou that?

Vasavadutta I am thy jailor and I walk my rounds. VUTHSA Bright jailor, thou art jealous without cause. Who would escape from heaven’s golden bars? Thy name’s Munjoolica? So is thy form A bower of the graceful things of earth. MUNJOOLICA I had another name but it has ceased, Forgotten. VUTHSA Thou wast then Sourashtra’s child? MUNJOOLICA I am still that royalty clouded, even as thou Captive Cowsamby. Me Gopalaca In battle seized, brought a disdainful gift To Vasavadutta. VUTHSA Since our fates are one, Should we not be allies? MUNJOOLICA For what bold purpose? VUTHSA How knowest thou I have one? MUNJOOLICA Were I a man! VUTHSA Wouldst thou have freedom? wilt thou give me help?

Act III, Scene 4 MUNJOOLICA In nothing against her I love and serve. VUTHSA No, but conspire to serve and love her best And make her queen of all the Aryan earth. MUNJOOLICA My payment? VUTHSA Name it thyself, when all is ours. MUNJOOLICA Content; it will be large. VUTHSA However large. MUNJOOLICA Now shall I be avenged upon my fate! What thy heart asks I know; too openly Thou carriest the yearning in thy eyes. Vuthsa, she loves thee as the half-closed bud Thrills to the advent of a wonderful dawn And like a dreamer half-awake perceives The faint beginnings of a sunlit world. Doubt not success more than that dawn must break; For she is thine. VUTHSA Take my heart’s gratitude For the sweet assurance. MUNJOOLICA I am greedy. Only Thy gratitude?

Vasavadutta VUTHSA What wouldst thou have? MUNJOOLICA The ring Upon thy finger, Vuthsa, for my own. VUTHSA (putting it on her finger) It shall live happier on a fairer hand. MUNJOOLICA Since thou hast paid me instantly and well, I will be zealous, Vuthsa, in thy cause. But my great bribe is in the future still. VUTHSA Claim it in our Cowsamby. MUNJOOLICA There indeed. Sleep now. VUTHSA By thy good help I now shall sleep. Munjoolica goes out. Music is sweet; to rule the heart’s rich chords Of human lyres much sweeter. Art’s sublime But to combine great ends more sovereign still, Accepting danger and difficulty to break Through proud and violent opposites to our will. Song is divine, but more divine is love.